Central Louisiana News

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, along with Senators Chuck Grassley and Catherine Cortez Masto, has cosponsored legislation aimed at strengthening the federal response to organized retail theft. The bill, known as the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2023, seeks to address the growing trend of organized retail crime, which has seen a 50 percent increase since 2015.

Organized retail crime poses a significant threat to retailers, their employees, and communities. Criminal organizations are turning to retail crime as a means to generate illicit profits, using internet-based tools to organize flash mobs, sell stolen goods, and launder money. The bill aims to provide law enforcement with the necessary tools to combat these crimes effectively.

Senator Cassidy expressed his support for the bill, stating, "Organized retail crime is becoming more and more prevalent, putting retailers, their employees, and communities in danger. The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act provides what we need to fight these crimes."

Senator Grassley echoed the need for federal action, highlighting how organized theft rings have been developing new tactics to pilfer goods and cause economic harm to American businesses. He emphasized the importance of the bill in improving the federal response to organized retail crime and recovering stolen goods and proceeds.

Senator Cortez Masto, who has heard directly from retailers in Nevada about the challenges they face, emphasized the bipartisan nature of the legislation. She stated, "Protecting our communities shouldn't be a partisan issue, and I will continue working with Senator Grassley to crack down on organized crime and stand up for the Nevada small businesses that have been targeted."

The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2023 establishes a Center to Combat Organized Retail Crime at Homeland Security Investigations. This center will bring together expertise from state and local law enforcement agencies and retail industry representatives. The bill also creates new tools to assist in federal investigations and prosecutions of organized retail crime and aid in the recovery of lost goods and proceeds.

The bill has garnered support from various organizations, including the National Retail Federation, the Retail Industry Leaders Association, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, among others.

In addition to Senators Cassidy, Grassley, and Cortez Masto, several other senators have cosponsored the legislation, demonstrating bipartisan support for addressing the issue of organized retail crime.

With the introduction of the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2023, there is hope that a coordinated multi-agency response will be established to tackle the evolving trends in organized retail theft. By providing law enforcement with the necessary tools and resources, the bill aims to deter future attacks on American retailers and protect businesses and communities from the dangers posed by organized retail crime.

Click this link to access more information: https://www.cassidy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cassidy-cosponsors-bill-to-bolsters-federal-response-to-organized-retail-theft